Invensys launches new Foxboro DCS

The firm unveiled the automation platform on Tuesday at its Foxboro and Triconex users’ conference in San Antonio, Texas, revealing Foxboro Evo’s software applications for process plant control covering operations, maintenance and safety.

A key theme was the technology’s economic impact, with Invensys promoting Foxboro Evo’s real time accounting capabilities to show the financial implications of decisions made in a process plant, as well as the fact that this is an open system that can be integrated with third party devices.

The platform allows upgrades to be made in stages rather than a wholesale change, allowing process plants to evolve – hence the name “Evo”.

One of a number of clients that worked with Invensys in developing the technology was BP, and the firm’s Brisbane-based DCS specialist Mike McKenzie said this approach to gradual replacement is ideal for the oil and gas sector where large amounts of technology is becoming obsolete.

The innovation and forward thinking of the new DCS is typical of what we saw while looking at Invensys

Schneider chief executive Jean-Pascal Tricoire

“We needed to upgrade the vast majority of our DCS, but like most sites, we didn’t have the luxury of a site-wide shutdown to make a full change possible,” said McKenzie

“We were facing a substantial obsolescence issue [and] we needed a solution that would allow us to upgrade components as we needed them, without sacrificing functionality or usability for operators. The new Invensys system allowed for a much easier upgrade of all components and will ensure that we can keep our system well away from obsolescence, so that we’re not required to perform any additional large-scale upgrades.”

In addition to its software elements, Foxboro Evo also comprises the Foxboro CP280 controller, which is due to officially launch in December.

Twice as powerful as Foxboro’s existing controllers, Invensys senior vice president Chris Lyden said the CP280 would help Invensys keep costs down when bidding for projects.

“As we bid major projects we can propose fewer controllers to get the job done,” said Lyden.

With Invensys due to be acquired by Schneider, the French-firm’s chief executive Jean-Pascal Tricoire gave a video message to the conference assuring delegates that Foxboro Evo was very much part of Schneider’s plans once the acquisition is completed at the end of the year.

“I was made aware of the new DCS as part of the due diligence leading up to the acquisition,” said Tricoire.

“The innovation and forward thinking of the new DCS is typical of what we saw while looking at Invensys and one of the reasons we look forward to adding Invensys expertise to the Schneider portfolio once the acquisition is finalised.”